The viewpoints of Fiesole

The top of the hill of San Francesco, with the terrace next to the Franciscan convent is undoubtedly the most beautiful and best known viewpoint in all of Fiesole. Besides being the most popular viewpoint, it also allows a glimpse of the Bell Tower and Cathedral of San Romolo.

Coming up from Via Fra Giovanni detto l’Angelico you find a small inlet between the small stone wall and the slope of the hill. In this area of junction between town and country two shaded benches offer rest to all passers-by. In other words, this terrace seems designed for all of those who, passing through here on foot or by bike, are in need of a short break before the final sprint.

At the top of Via Vecchia Fiesolana there is the Panchina della Regina (Bench of the Queen), so called because it was the favourite place of Queen Victoria of England, to stop and enjoy the coolness of the Florentine hills, during her stay in Florence in 1888. At the end of the 19th century many members of the British aristocracy had in fact chosen Florence, and Fiesole too, as their privileged residence, thus forming a very large community.

Inside the forest of holm oaks and cypresses of Montececeri, in the curve that from the entrance of Via degli Scalpellini leads to Cava Braschi, there are two wooden benches overlooking a portion of sky and earth. In this place, aided by the absolute quiet, time seems to synchronise with the rustling leaves and space seems to adapt to the shapes of nature. In fact, Montececeri can be the ideal destination for solitary readers and for all those in search of peace, quiet and meditation.

This viewpoint is located in a garden near the Tabernacle of Poggerello, close to via del Bargellino. This time, unlike the previous four cases, the gaze overlooks the Mugnone valley, rather than the Arno valley. Therefore, if on the other side we see the urban settlement of Florence, on this side the scenery is totally different, mainly rural, dotted with tiny hamlets and farms.